Susan Branch: I came to be a student at Appalachian. I came up here a lot when I was younger, I learned how to ski at Beech Mountain and attended some football games, a couple of concerts on campus. I didn’t really see Appalachian until I was a senior in high school and I came up to visit a friend that was a freshman here. I was just in awe by the beauty of the mountains, campus and the fresh air and was excited when I got my acceptance letter, I was ready to be a Mountaineer.

So my experience when I got up here, I wanted to take advantage of everything that App had to offer. I got involved from day one. I applied for the Black Student Association advisory board and they introduced me to other folks. Then I joined Lady’s Elite freshman year -- it is a female student service organization on campus. So I had a really great experience. I would say that definitely my most cherished organization and one that is still deep in my heart is I pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha up here, Omicron Kappa Chapter. It was a great chance for me. I was lucky to be elected president of the chapter, it was quite an experience. I had a great time and it was definitely my most cherished memories. The Student Union is an important place on campus for me. It is where I spent a lot of time studying for exams. I sent my very first email ever from the computer lab on the second floor.

I specifically chose the Multicultural Center to film here because this was a safe place and a welcoming place. A place where I could connect with other students of color. A place where we could have forums and discussions about different things that affected us on campus. It is really nice to be back in this center and I’m glad to see that it is still welcoming and a safe place for students of color here today. I was raised, my parents taught me to give back to the community that you live in and that gives so much to you and I. that’s how I feel about Appalachian. Whether it’s my time, talent or treasure, I want current Mountaineers and future Mountaineers to have even better opportunities that I had when I was here. Being this year’s recipient of the Young Alumni Award means so much because this university means so much to me. I am thankful to the Alumni Council for the honor. I thank my parents for instilling in me the want to give back and how important it is to give back to a place that has given me so much. I’m happy to serve. I don’t do it for the recognition, but this is definitely an honor.

Jim Deal: I’m standing in front of Chapell Wilson Hall and Chapell Wilson Hall was where I started high school in 1963. This spot is special for me for many reasons. I walked to school, the elementary school was on the other side of Chapell Wilson Hall where the parking garage is now for the library, and I walked to school and I walked back from school. I walked back behind the dorms, going down the street. I grew up on this campus almost. It was just part of my community, it is part of who I am. My experiences here, when I say Appalachian is part of my DNA, it is part of my DNA. It is part of who I’ve been since I was 8 years old. My mother was a graduate of Appalachian, three of her sisters were graduates of Appalachian, two of her brothers were graduates of Appalachain, my sister is a graduate of Appalachian, I met my wife at Appalachian. She is a graduate and she also has her master’s from here. Two of my children are graduates of Appalachian. The opportunity to go here in a community we grew up in at a university that we loved and has provided so many opportunities to us. It’s hard to express what that means. Appalachian provided me with a quality education, prepared me for the next step in my life and I made so many friends who I treasure today. Appalachian is a family. Appalachian has been a family since 1899.

I think the motto that the Dougherty brothers had when they founded this university was to make this area of the state better. I got a quality education at Appalachian. I have an obligation. You know one of my favorite verses in the Bible, I’m going to paraphrase it a little bit, but it says “to those whom that much has been given, much is expected.” Well, when you come to Appalachian, much is given to you and as a result of that much is expected of you. So the blessings I have received from Appalachian far outweigh what little that I have done for Appalachian. I appreciate the opportunity to serve. I appreciate the opportunity to try to enhance the student learning experience and to try and make this a better place for our people to work. I am fortunate enough to work with a lot of people who have done that far more than I ever will or ever have.

It’s hard to describe what the Distinguished Alumni Award means to me. The fact that I received this award this year, I can’t really express very well in words. It’s one of those things that I usually am really good at, talking. I’ve made a living talking. But this is one of those things that when I think about meeting my wife, think about my mother coming to school here, think about six children in her family coming to school here. I think about my grandfather playing cards with Dr. Dougherty. Dan’l Boone Inn was my grandfather’s home, he was a country doctor, and he and Dr. Dougherty were great friends. I am trying to think now what he would say with his grandson standing here on Appalachian’s campus and receiving this award. I think he would be proud of what Appalachian is, proud of what Appalachian has become and I think he would be proud of what Appalachian’s future is. And I’m so blessed and this is just another one of the blessing that I have been fortunate enough to receive.

Hayes Smith: The way I came to Appalachian, well maybe both of us, our parents bought a place up here and I just fell in love with the mountains. I knew I didn’t want to go any other place except the mountains and of course Appalachian was one of the ones on top.

Kenan Smith: We just had a great time. We had a lot of friends, did a lot of social activities. We did attend class every now and then. We had a good time and just loved our time up here. It was a wonderful experience.

HS: The importance of giving back to our alma mater is because of the students. I think for me is just responsibility. I’m a Christian. It’s the responsibility that you need to try to do for others when you have the ability to do so. On the business advisory council, we are privileged to be able to have some of the students that are recipients to the Dean’s Scholarships and whatnot, be able to speak to us. There was one young man, I’m not going to mention his name, and he stood up in front of the group and he came from El Salvador, I believe. Basically they had to leave the country, violence was terrible and so he, his mom and dad left. This young man, no family ever in school before, he stood in front of us and he wept because of the impact the scholarship made on his life. Now he is working for a big bank. If you want to change a life, give. These kids, especially the ones working so hard and have the jobs, just give. It’s a privilege for us to be able to give.

KS: Giving back, I mean that’s what it’s about. The Bible talks about paying it forward and trying to help others in need. If you ever get to a point in your life, and I think we all can at times, to try to pay it forward to help the students. That’s been instilled in us from day one, that life's not about us. A sermon that I heard, that I thought was good, was called The Dash. Your date of birth is not important and your date of death is not important. Really all that is important is the dash in between. What you did with your life and how you tried to help other folks.

HS: We’re so thankful to help anywhere we can and we are so proud of our assistance with the Energy Summit because it has helped catapult Appalachian to notoriety amongst the nation... Last year we saved---

KS: We’re a total of 499 million in avoided costs by all the universities working together.

HS: And that’s just in the university system. That doesn’t include all these other, that was a total of 50, involved universities from all over the country. So everybody is learning from each other. We have so many faculty that are doing great things with sustainability...teaching. Again, when you’re in a place like Boone, North Carolina where all you have to do is look at the window and see all the important things that we need to protect for future generations.

KS: It is important to teach these students sustainability. We want to leave something for the next generation behind us, too. That’s so important and it goes back to life’s not all about us, it’s about everyone else too. So we need to leave something for the next generation. I think we are doing a great job of, these professors teaching our students that.

HS: We’re getting an award?

KS: I wasn’t told that. I was told this was the funnies.

HS: I was told this was a free lunch thing...

KS: That’s the only thing I was told there was a free meal involved. I didn’t know this was going to be a...well, it’s always an honor. But, as we’ve told many people, there are so many people that do so much more than we do and who pay it forward. Hopefully we can continue to just try to make a difference and appreciate the what I call an atta boy. Get patted on the back and go okay that’s great now let’s get back to work then.

HS: I think part of it too is it’s teamwork or, as we say at Appalachian, it’s a family. We do a little bit here and there, but we are working hand in hand with faculty and staff and administration on whatever it is. Again, it’s the fun stuff where you know you can help a little bit and may impact a student’s life. And again, that’s the really good stuff.